Apparatus for guiding metal strip



Aug. 27, 1968 F. UNGERER 3,398,871

APPARATUS FOR GUIDING METAL STRIP Filed April 1, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 27, 1968 F. UNGERER I 3,398,871

APPARATUS FOR GUIDINGMETAL STRIP United States Patent 3,398,871 APPARATUS FOR GUIDING METAL STRIP Fritz Ungerer, deceased, late of Pforzheim, Germany, by Irma Ungerer, sole heir, Pforzheim, Germany, assignor to Irma Ungerer, Pforzheim, Germany Filed Apr. 1, 1966, Ser. No. 539,586 6 Claims. (Cl. 226-173) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Apparatus for guiding metal strip in which a pair of endless link chains are each guided about a pair of guide wheels so that each chain has a straight portion laterally spaced from and parallel to a straight portion of the other chain, in which the links of each chain carry on the side thereof facing the other chain, mouth pieces open toward the other chain and adapted to receive edges of metal strip to be guided by the apparatus, in which the links of each chain are provided on the other side thereof with rack teeth, and in which driving pinions arranged between the guide wheels are in mesh with the rack teeth, which pinions are the only components of the apparatus for driving the chains in the same direction, whereby the straight chain portions are driven at uniform speeds.

This invention relates to an improvement in the apparatus for guiding metal strip according to US. Patent 2,857,158, which apparatus comprises endless chains, which are disposed laterally of the strip and move in unison therewith and extend around sprockets and are guided on or in brackets and have mouth portions which are open toward the edge of the strip.

In the known apparatus, the sprockets were used for driving. When the drive is effected by the sprockets, which engage the pins between the side plates of the chain, a uniform movement of the mouth portions is not possible even though the sprockets rotate at a uniform speed or constant angular velocity. Whenever a chain link engages a sprocket or disengages the same, the mouth portions will lag and then lead relative to the strip, which is moving at constant speed.

This pulsating motion of the mouth portions relative to the metal strip depends in magnitude and frequency on the diameter of the sprocket and the length of the side plates and disturbs the uniform motion of the strip. According to the present invention, this intermittent motion is avoided.

The apparatus for guiding metal strip, which apparatus comprises endless chains which are disposed laterally of the metal strip and move in unison therewith and extend around sprockets and are guided on or in brackets and have mouth portions that are open toward the edge of the strip, is characterized in that the chain links are provided with rack teeth on the side remote from the mouth portions and with these teeth engage one or more driving pinions whereas the reversing sprockets have no drive. As a result, the mouth portions of the chains are moved uniformly and in synchronism with the strip.

An embodiment of the invention is shown by way of example on the accompanying drawing, in which FIG, 1 is a partly diagrammatic top plan view showing the entire guiding apparatus and FIGS. 2 and 3 are a top plan view and a transverse sectional view, respectively, showing a portion of a conveyor chain, on an enlarged scale.

The chain links consist of side plates 1 and 2 in the form of alternating outer and inner side plates, which are articulatedly jointed by pins 3. At both ends, the chains extend around sprockets 4, which are not driven. Brackets 5 for guiding the chain are provided between the sprockets 3,398,871 Patented Aug. 27, 1968 ice 2 4, as is indicated by dash-and-dot lines in FIG. 1. Mouth portions 6 are detachably mounted between the alternating outer and inner side plates 1 and 2. The retaining months have slots defined by curvilinear edges. The slots are so wide that the strip will not be clamped even if it is corrugated. The pins 3 have protruding journals 7, which carry ball bearings 8 for guiding the pins in the brackets 5, as is apparent from FIG. 3. These ball bearings are alternatingly engaged for guidance. The strip 9 to be guided is indicated by dash-and-dot lines in FIG. 1.

On the side remote from the mouths 6, the side plates 1 and 2 are provided with rack teeth 10, which engage driving pinions 11 and 12, as is shown in FIG. 1.. The pinions extend across twice the height of the side plates, or the rack teeth of adjacent side plates are staggered and two pinions are arranged one over the other so that each of two adjacent side plates engages a different pinion. This arrangement results in a movement of the chains or their mouth portions 6 in synchronism with the metal strip 9 so that any disturbance of the feeding of the strip is avoided.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for guiding metal strip comprising, in combination, two pairs of freely rotatable guide wheels having parallel axes located in two parallel planes spaced in transverse direction from each other; two endless link chains respectively wound about said guide wheels so that each chain has a straight portion laterally spaced from and parallel to a straight portion of the other chain, each chain comprising a plurality of elongated links pivotally connected at opposite ends to each other and each provided between said opposite ends with engaging means; mouth portions carried by said chain links of each chain and open toward the other chain; and a drive pinion for each chain intermediate said guide wheels and in mesh with said engaging means of said links along said straight chain portions only for driving each chain in the same direction, said drive pinions being the only elements of said apparatus in driving engagement with said chains so that said straight portions of said chains are moved with uniform speed in longitudinal direction.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, and including guide means arranged between said guide wheels and cooperating with said straight portions of each chain for guiding the same in longitudinal direction.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said freely rotating guide wheels are sprocket wheels.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said engaging means on said links comprise a plurality of rack teeth on each link uniformly spaced in longitudinal direction thereof and meshing with the teeth of the respective drive pinion.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said elongated links of each chain are pivotally connected at opposite ends by pivot pins projecting with end portions thereof laterally beyond the respective links, and including guide rollers mounted on said opposite end portions of said pivot pins, and guide brackets extending along said straight portions of said chains and having guide faces extending parallel to said straight portions and being engaged by said guide rollers.

6. An apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said guide faces are arranged to opposite sides of said guide rollers.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,031,003 2/ 1936 Neptune 226172 2,857,158 10/1958 Ungerer 226-472 M. H'ENSON WOOD, JR., Primary Examiner.

R. A. SCHACHER, Assistant Examiner. 

